The health in Houston, AK is a major issue as the town does not have many medical facilities and hospitals. The nearest hospital is located 100 miles away in Fairbanks, making access to healthcare difficult for many of its residents. There are some local medical facilities, but they are limited and often stretched thin due to high demand. Consequently, many people in Houston lack the necessary access to healthcare when they need it most. Furthermore, there is also an emphasis on preventative care, as health screenings can be difficult to obtain due to financial and other barriers. Despite these challenges, there are still resources available for those who need them, such as community health centers and volunteer-run clinics that provide essential care to those without insurance or the means to pay for it. Everyone in Houston should strive to get regular checkups and take preventative measures so that their health remains the best it can be.
The health of a city has many different factors. It can refer to air quality, water quality, risk of getting respiratory disease or cancer. The people you live around can also affect your health as some places have lower or higher rates of physical activity, increased alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, and cancer rates.
Physicians per Capita
There are 113 physicians per 100,000 population in Houston. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Houston area is 115.8 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
115.8 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Houston area is 29 (100=best). The US average is 55.
29 / 100
Note that this is a measure of Watershed quality, not the water that comes from your faucet. The EPA has stated that a healthy watershed is closely related to drinking water quality. The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators such as pH, chemicals, metals, and bacteria.
Superfund Index
The annual BestPlaces Superfund Index for the Houston area is 96 (100=best). The US average is 87.
96 / 100
The EPA's Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of our nation's most contaminated land. Our index is based on the number of active Superfund sites (over 15,000 in the United States), with particular attention paid to those on the National Priorities List which pose the greatest health danger.
Quick Facts
Commuting can effect your health. The average person in Houston commutes 37.7 minutes one-way, which is longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Houston area is 82 (100=best). The US average is 58.
82 / 100
This is based on new measures of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA, called the National Air Toxics Assessment. This analysis models respiratory illness and cancer risk down to the zip code level, providing better detail and insight than the previous analysis based solely on results from air monitoring stations.